Okolie bids to battle the best in ring

LAWRENCE OKOLIE insists the “chains are off at heavyweight” and he would back himself to beat the winner of Oleksandr Usyk against Daniel Dubois.

- by CHRIS MCKENNA

The British fighter moved up from cruiserweight where he won a world title and is now competing at heavyweight.

Okolie, 32, will have his second fight in the division when he faces Kevin Lerena on the undercard of Usyk and Dubois who take each other on for the undisputed crown at Wembley Stadium on July 19.

Okolie - known as 'The Sauce' - is the No.1 contender with the WBC and the feeling is if he beats South African southpaw Lerena he could land a shot at the vacant title against Agit Kabayel.

That's because the winner of the main event next month is going to be hit with mandatories they will struggle to fulfil and may lose some belts outside of the ring.